Jazz Library

Oliver Nelson wrote and directed the iconic album Blues and The Abstract Truth - a defining 1960s jazz record. In this programme Guy Barker joins Alyn Shipton to explore the wealth of material that Nelson created as both arranger and saxophonist in a prolific career cut short by chronic overwork.

Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen was one of the most technically brilliant jazz double bassists from the 1960s to the early 2000s, until his sudden death from a heart attack in April 2005. Most famous for his work with Oscar Peterson, Niels-Henning also played with Joe Pass, Count Basie and many of the great American visitors to Europe. In this archive interview, he joins Alyn Shipton to select examples of his finest recordings.

The star trumpeter with Count Basie in the 1930s and 40s, Harry Sweets Edison went on to become one of the most recorded trumpet soloists in jazz. In an interview recorded for Radio 3 in 1992 he joined Alyn Shipton to select his favourite recordings from that vast catalogue, including discs with Nat King Cole, Ben Webster and Billie Holiday.

Looking back on the long recording career of Stephane Grappelli, Alyn Shipton is joined by Martin Taylor who played with the great French violinist for several years. The music spans over fifty years from the first 1930s discs by the Hot Club of France, and covers the full impressive range of Grappelli's achievements.

In the Count Basie Orchestra from 1936-48, Jo Jones redefined jazz drumming. Percussionist Richard Pite joins Alyn Shipton to select Jones's finest recordings, and to demonstrate some of his innovations in the studio. As well as the Basie band, the programme focuses on Jones's trios and sextets.

Alex Welsh was a fine traditional and mainstream trumpeter, who led one of Britain's best jazz groups from the 1950s to the 1980s. Digby Fairweather, who knew him well and inherited Welsh's cornet, joins Alyn Shipton to select the finest available recordings from the Welsh band's long career.

A one-time member of Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers, Cedar Walton is one of the most sought-after and versatile pianists in jazz. He joins Alyn Shipton to discuss records made under his own name, as well as work with Blakey, the Jazztet, Ron Carter and Lee Morgan.

Originally in folk-jazz group Lammas, leader of a regular band at London's Pizza Express and then recruited to join Chick Corea, Tim Garland is now one of Britain's best known jazz saxophonists. In this programme he joins Alyn Shipton to pick not only examples of his work in all those contexts, but also in orchestral settings, with his Lighthouse Trio, Acoustic Triangle, and his current touring band with Americans Joe Locke and Geoff Keezer, known as Storms / Nocturnes.

John Etheridge joins Alyn Shipton to suggest the best recordings by three generations of gypsy guitarists whose work is often overshadowed by Django Reinhardt. Artists covered include the Ferre family, Bireli Lagrene, Fapy Lafertin and the Rosenberg dynasty.

Barbados-born Harry Beckett was one of the most fiery and inventive trumpeters in British jazz, right up until his death in July this year. Chris Batchelor joins Alyn Shipton to look back at Beckett's recordings, and to pick his best performances. As well as a range of music from his own bands, the programme includes Beckett's work with Ian Carr, Mike Westbrook and Graham Collier.